Keyed wind instrument



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. ANTHONY.

KEYED WIND INSTRUMENT.

Patented Mar. 19,1895.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ANTHONY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

KEYED WIND INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,807, dated March19, 1895.

Appli filed January 16, 1895. Serial No. 535,095. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Golu mbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Keyed Wind Instruments;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to flutes and kindred instruments havinga series of holes to be opened and closed to produce notes of difierentpitch and concerns more particularly such as have keys operated by thefingers to open and close such holes. In order to preserve the equalityand identity of timber of the higher notes it is necessary to providevent openings above the note sounded. It is also essential, as is wellknown, that there should be a free vent for the column of airimmediately below the note sounded. The open end of the flute issufficient for the lower notes but in the higher register it isimportant that at least three of the holes below the note sounded shallbe open.

The object of my invention is to provide keys and mechanism whereby thesounding hole and the proper vent holes above and below may be openedand closed with the least possible shifting of the fingers from one keyor lever to another.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents as nearly aspracticable a flute provided with my key mechanism, the end of the flutecontainingthe embouchure being broken OE and omitted. Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic or plan View. Fig. 3 represents one group of the keys; Fig.4, another group; and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show details of the grouprepresented 'in Fig. 4 and how they are constructed and put together.

In the different views of the drawings like characters of referencedesignate correspon ding parts, and for convenience I have firstnumbered the keys from 1 to 16 inclusive, the key 1 being at the lowerend of the flute. If the flute be a C flute, that is, one whose lowesttone is produced by closing all the open keys the key 1 will cover the Csharp hole, key 2 will cover the D natural hole,key 3 the D sharp hole,and so on through sixteen notes chromatically.

As the foot keys 1, 2, and 3 and the devices for operating them are likethose on the well known Boehm flute no detailed description of them isneeded.

My improvements are directed to the keys and mechanism above the firstthree keys, and my mechanism comprises principally two groups of keyssubstantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. One of the groups (Fig. 3)includes the keys 5, 6, 8, 9, l0 and 15, and the other (Fig. 4) includesthe keys at, 7, 11, 12 and 13. The keys 14 and 16 are added to these twogroups to complete the series and are operated by the thumb of the lefthand.

Extending longitudinally on the flute and journaled to rock in poststhereon is an axle or shaft 17 fixed to the lower end of which is thekey 5. Keys 6, 8, 9 and 10 having suitable sleeves are placed to rock onthis shaft 17. The sleeve of key 8 has two lateral projections which lieunder and are engaged by projections on the sleeves of keys 6 and 9 sothat when either of the keys 6 and 9 is pressed down key 8 is likewiseoperated. Key 9 has formed on it a disk 9 which projects over key 10 sothat when key 9 is pressed down to close a hole it also closes key 10but key 9 may rise independently of key 10. Fixed on the upper end ofshaft 17 is a T-shaped projection 40 upon one side of which rests aprojection of the sleeve of key 10. Journaled between suitable posts inline with and above the shaft 17 is a shaft or axle 18 to the upper endof which is fixed the key 15. The lower end of the shaft 18 is providedwith an L-shaped projection 41 which rests on the upper part of theT-shaped projection 40 on the shaft 17 so that when key 5 is presseddown keys 10 and 15 are similarly operated. Pivoted on a short separateaxle opposite key 8 is a closed key 8 having a lever operated by thefourth finger of the left hand.

Key 4 is fixed to the lower end of a rocking sleeve 19 on a shaft oraxle fixed between suitable posts and extending parallel to the shaft17. At the upper end of this sleeve 19 is fixed an L'-shaped projection42. Journaled between suitable posts above and in line with shaft 19 isanother shaft 20 on the upper end of which is key 13, and at the lowerend of which is an L-shaped projection 43 which is engaged by theprojection 12 on the upper end of shaft 19. Extending between theprojection at the lower end of shaft and key 13 on said shaft is a longsleeve 21 fixed to the lower end of which is key 7 and on the upper endof which are the short sleeves 22 and 23 of the keys 11 and 12respectively. The sleeve 22 of key 11 has a projection extending overand engaginga projection on the sleeve of key 12 so that when key 11 ispressed down key 12 is likewise operated and these keys 11 and 12 aremovable independently of sleeve 21.

The key 12 has a disk 12 which projects over key 13 so that when key 12is pressed down key 13 is likewise operated.

On the upper end of the sleeve 21 is a short sleeve 25 having a ring key26 which surrounds the disk 12'. The sleeve 25 of the ring key 26 isfixed to the sleeve 21 by means of a feather 27 which engages a groove28 in the sleeve of said ring key. If the feather 27 is fixed to thesleeve 21 the sleeves 22 and 23 of keys 11 and 12 will be grooved in thesame way so as to allow them to be passed into their places on sleeve21, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. There are, of course, other ways ofconnecting the sleeve of the ring key to the sleeve 21. The projection41 on the lower end of shaft 18 is also engaged by a lever 29 to beoperated by the thumb of theleft hand. By this means the key 15 may beclosed independently of the other keys.

Arranged above and in line with the shaft 20 is a short shaft 30 onwhich rocks the key 14 closed by a thumb piece 32. A closed key 16 isarranged on a shaft 31 parallel to shaft 30 and is operated bya thumbpiece 33 extending partially over the thumb piece of key 1 1. The thumbpieces 29. 32 and 33 are located near one another so that the thumb ofthe left hand may be slipped from one to another readily.

All the keys herein described except keys 3, 8 and 16 are provided withthe usual springs that tend to hold them open and the keys 3, 8' and 16have springs that hold said keys closed. These springs are well knownand no illustration is needed.

In use, the first three fingers of the right hand are placed on the keys6, 5 and 1 and the fourth or little finger of that hand operates thefootkeys, while the first three fingers of the left hand are placed ondisk 12, key 11 and disk 9 and the fourth or little finger of this handoperates the lever of key 8'. When the fingers of the left hand are ontheir proper keys the thumb of that hand rests on the the first threefingers of the left hand, thumb piece 32, the keys 6, 5 and 4 with thefirst three fingers of the right hand and the keys 1 and 2 with thelittle finger of the right hand, the note 0 may be produced. C sharp isproduced by allowing key 1 to rise. D natural is produced by allowingkeys 1 and 2 to rise. D sharp is produced by pressing down the lever ofkey 3. E is produced by raising the third finger of the right hand andkeeping the key 3 open with the little finger of that hand. F natural isproduced by raising the second finger of the right hand. F sharp isproduced by lifting the first finger of the right hand. G natural isproduced by raising the first finger of the left hand and thus allowingthe ring key and with it key 7 to rise by its spring. Because of theflatting effect of an inclosed column of air the first finger of theleft hand remains up and with it key 7 for the three succeeding notes. Gsharp is produced by opening key S with the little finger of the lefthand, the open G sharp key being held closed by the projection on thesleeve of key 9 when G sharp is produced with key 8. A natural isproduced by raising the third finger of the left hand and closing key 5with the second finger of the right hand, thus holding key 10 closed. Asharp is produced by raising the second fiir ger of the right hand fromkey 5 then allowing key 10 to rise by its spring. B natural is producedby raising the second finger of the left hand and at the same timeholding keys 12 and 13 closed with the first finger of the left hand. Vthen this is done key 7 is closed by the ring key but as this hole is soremote from the hole of key 11 the note of this hole is not affected byclosing the F hole. To produce 0 natural or the tone of key 12 the firstfinger of the left hand is raised and key 4 pressed down by the thirdfinger of the right hand thus closing key 13. C sharp is produced byraising the third finger of the right hand thus allowing key tto riseand with it key 13. The note of key 14 or D natural is produced bylifting the thumb of the left hand off thumb piece 32 and holding downkey 5 which closes key 15. Tolproduce D sharp, that is, the note of key15, the second finger of the right hand is raised from key 5 and the key15 rises by its own spring. The closed key 16 is opened by pressing downthumb piece 33. The hole of key 16 makes the note E natural.

For the notes of the second octave the fingering of the first isemployed except that in addition to the hole for the fundamental andthose below it the fifth hole above is opened. For example in playing Enatural of the sec ond octave on the flute illustrated the hole of thatnote as well as that of A natural or key 9 will be opened. For F naturalthe key 10 or A sharp hole will be opened, but key 10 opens by a springwhen the second finger of the right hand is raised from key 5 and theOpen G sharp hole (or key 8) is held closed with key 6. For F sharp key11 is allowed l l l to rise, and for G natural key 12. For G sharp key13 is allowed to rise but as in this case both keys 12 and 13 rise atthe same time it will be necessary to close keys 5 and 6 with the firstand second fingers of the right hand. ForA natural key 14 is opened. ForA sharp key 15 is opened but this key opens by a spring simultaneouslywith the A sharp key or key 10. The hole of key 15 I have found may alsoserve as a vent for B natural, but the character of the tone is improvedby the use of the hole of key 16 which is opened by shifting the thumbto the lever 33, as before described.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, thecombination of a rocking shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed thereon, keys 6,8, 9, and having sleeves on said shaft, the keys 6 and 9 having devicesfor closing key 8, and key 9 having a device for closing key 10,substantially as described.

2. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, thecombination of a rocking shaft 17 having keys thereon substantially asshown and a projection 40 fixed on the end of said shaft, and theindependent shaft 18 arranged in line with shaft 17 having key and aprojection 41 to be engaged by the projection on the shaft 17,substantially as set forth.

3. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, thecombination of a rocking shaft 17 having keys thereon sub stantially asshown and a projection 40 fixed to the end of said shaft, a shaft 18arranged in line with shaft 17 having a key 15 and a projection 41 to beengaged by the projection on the shaft 17, and a thumb lever 29fulcrumed on the instrument also to engage the projection 41 to operatethe shaft 18 independently of shaft 17, substantially as set forth.

1. In a key mechanism formusical instruments of the kind described, arocking-shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed at one end, a projection 40 at theother, and a key 10 with a sleeve on said shaft having a projection tobe engaged by the projection 40, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, arocking shaft 17, keys 8, 9, and 10 having sleeves on said shaft,projections on key 9 to engage keys 8 and 10, whereby when key 9 isclosed keys 8 and 10 are likewise operated.

6. In akey mechanism of the kind described, a shaft 17 having the openkeys 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 connected and arranged substantially as shownand described, combined with a closed key 8' opposite key 8 for thepurpose set forth.

7. In a key mechanism of the kind described, a shaft 20 having key 13, arockable sleeve 21 on said shaft having key 7, and keys 11 and 12 havingsleeves rockable on sleeve 21, substantially as set forth.

8. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, arockable shaft 20 having key 13, a movable sleeve 21 having key 7 onsaid shaft, keys 11 and 12 having sleeves on sleeve 21, a disk 12' onkey 12 projecting over key 13, and a ring key 26 fixed to said sleeve21, substantially as set forth.

9. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, arockable shaft 19 having key 1 at one end, and a projection 42 at theother, a shaft 20 havingkey 13 fixed at one end and a projection 43 atthe other to be engaged by the aforesaid projection 12, a rockablesleeve 21 on said shaft 20 having key 7 and ring key 26 fixed thereon,and rockable keys 11 and 12, operating substantially as set forth.

10. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described, arockable shaft 17 having a key 5 fixed thereon, keys 6, 8, 9,- and 10having sleeves on said shaft, the keys 6 and 9 having devices forclosing key 8, and key 9 having a device for closing key 10, combinedwith a rockable shaft 20 having key 13, a rockable sleeve 21 on saidshaft 20 having key 7, and keys 11 and 12 having sleeves rockable onsleeve 21, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

11. In a key mechanism for musical instruments of the kind described,two groups of keys one comprising the keys 5, 6, 8, 8, 9, 10, and 15,and the other group comprising keys 1, 7, 11, 12, and 13, connectedtogether and to be operated by the fingers, combined with keys 14 and 16to be operated by the thumb, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ANTHONY.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. FINOKEL, LEWIs L. RANKIN.

